The Zombies "Odessey & Oracle"

[Mighty Jack]

Here's an idea, lets see if it floats.

A great albums discussion series!

Not just from me, hell I wrote my top 200 and this would just be a rehash. But for everyone on the board.

Idea: Once a week someone will pick an album they think is da bomb and they'll start up a thread, talk about the record and then we'll all put in our 2 cents.

It might help build up our CD collections, it might invite tears and joy it might even end all war, disease and traffic accidents!

This might fall with a thud, but we'll give it a shot.

So any volunteers to lead next weeks discussion?

Anywhoo, here's week 1 of the proposed series....

[Mighty Jack]

Odessey and Oracle, The Zombies (1967)

Recorded at Abbey Road (for the most part) and given a big wad of cash and no studio interference. The Zombies began work on what would become their most frustrating as well as pinnacle achievement.

Never a big hit, never the less the band had its fans. John Lennon offered to produce this album but the guys decided to do it themselves.

What they came up with was pure flower power bliss (one band mate said that they really believed in the flower power movement and joked that one of the songs was very Spinal Tap like -I.E. "Listen to What the Flower People Say")

Very keyboard based and surprisingly lush despite only having 4 tracks to work with! There have been several versions released. One with both stereo and mono tracks (there are differences) and the most common is the recent release which includes B side and a few tracks from the proposed "RIP" album.

About RIP. This illustrates the fickle nature of the biz. The Zombies couldn't buy a hit for this record.

They broke up - Clive Davis wanted nothing to do with their new single "Time of the Season"... until a radio station started playing it, it got hot, shot to #1 on Cashbox (#3 on Billboard).

Suddenly Davis is scrambling to re-release TOTS and commissions the band to record a new album and single (Imagine the Swan). The album gets done, a new single is released. But it tanks, Davis then back pedals and the LP (titled "R.I.P.") is never released.

The Zombies in effect become "Argent" (Hold Your Head Up) and that's, that.


The Track listing for Odessey and Oracle (yeah, the cover artists got the spelling wrong. Not the only typo on the record. The year on the song "Butcher's Tale" was mistakenly printed as 1914 instead of 1916)

1. Care of Cell 44
2. A Rose For Emily
3. Maybe After He's Gone
4. Beechwood Park
5. Brief Candles
6. Hung Up On A Dream
7. Changes
8. I Want Her, She Wants Me
9. This Will Be Our Year
10. Butchers Tale (Western Front 1914)
11. Friends of Mine
12. Time of the Season

[Krista]

I really like everything I've heard from the Zombies. The '60s has some killer music, which most of my friends don't understand

But I'm not going to say too much, because really I don't know a lot about the Zombies. Wish I knew more of their material.

[Mighty Jack]

The 60s is my great love musically.

More on the album:

One thing that came through with self-production was that the bass was more predominate than in previous releases and the drummer was really solid here. I also like the vocals, the harmonies, and the way they backgrounds would sweep in and around the melodies. At times you can hear hints of the Beatles, Beach Boys, The Left Banke and especially, the Hollies in their sound.

My favorite tunes on the LP are…

Beachwood Park
The Beatles had Penny lane and Strawberry Fields, the Zombies added to the 60s theme of writing songs about places with this dramatic and dreamy soundscape.

Hung Up On A Dream
Ethereal flower power. I love the orchestral and vocal arrangement.

Butcher’s Tale
The song concerns a soldier during WWI. While Colin Blunstone had a great voice, leader Rod Argent urged bassist Chris White to sing it, feeling his wavery, nervous sounding voice would be perfect for it. And it is, when he hits the high notes on the reverb enhanced “I can’t stop shaking” sequence, it’s powerful!

Friends of Mine
I believe this was the first single off the album. It flopped in the UK so the US didn’t bother with it. I’m surprised it failed because it’s such a catchy fun, almost bubble gum pop melody. It’s the least experimental tune on the album, but it’s so sweet that I can’t help but be enchanted by it. The names sung in background were real couples the group knew. Sadly, only Jean and Jim made it last.

Time of the Season
Who’s your daddy? I’m shocked it took ‘em so long to realize that this was the hit single they were looking for from this album. A true classic; and one where the mistakes added to the flavor (dropping the drum from the chorus, accidentally keeping in both organ lead tracks in the mix). Great smooth vocals from Blunstone, all around perfect arrangement.

Of the bonus material I loved “If It Don’t Work Out” – the driving bass, drum, orchestra work on the chorus is simple but very catchy. It’s nothing fancy but it make me wanna dance!

[soundandvision]

I can't recall if it was a thread I started or kick started with one of the first responses, at any rate, I wrote about my love for this record:

"One of those "discoveries" from the late 1960's that has only recently begun to get the lavish attention that it does. Primarily a singles band, The Zombies created a baroque pop masterpiece with 'Odyssey'. If they hadn't been overshadowed by fellow Britons, The Beatles & The Rolling Stones, they may have been the Britain's answer to the Beach Boys. Except, they played their own instruments."

40th anniversary of this record this year... oddly enough, I've recently pulled it out quite a bit for more listens..given the anniv.

If anyone's on the fence about this record, get it. Make sure you get the Fuel 2000 release from a few years ago with extra tracks, single versions, etc. Essential to any record collection that purports to take pop music seriously.

[Trumpy's Magic Snout]

Love everything I've heard by The Zombies but never heard a full album. Going to buy this at the weekend.

Also great idea for the Great Albums threads. I'm game but will have to wait it out this week, too much work and albums to choose from! Oh, and I won't do Tom Waits! Ha!

[soundandvision]

krista said:

I really like everything I've heard from the Zombies. The '60s has some killer music, which most of my friends don't understand

But I'm not going to say too much, because really I don't know a lot about the Zombies. Wish I knew more of their material.

Before buying this record you may want track down some of the singles (downloading, whatever). "Tell Her No" & "She's Not There" were the two big one's (before this record came out). One of their best 'songs' is "The Way I Feel Inside", simple with the baroque vibes that would show up on Odyssey. They also did a killer cover of Little Anthony & the Imperials "Goin' Out of My Head".

If you'd maybe be interested in one collection, I would hunt down "Singles Collection: A's, B's 1964-1969". Though, it's an import..kind of hard to find on Big Beat (they also put out the Box Set "Zombie Heaven" which I've had but had to sell because I was running out of room and rarely listened to the hold thing... I digress..

[mrcleveland]

This album is my Top-100 favorites! Let me break the album in 12....

Care of Cell 44-Very Cheerful, but even though It's about a prisoner he's glad that the prisoner is coming back home. Has a Beach Boys feel with the harmonies.

A Rose for Emily-This torch song has a Bee Gees-esque feel. And when I mean the Bee Gees, I mean their music from the 60's not the 70's.

Maybe after he's gone-Sorroful verses, but cheerful chorus with a pop Beatleesque-style.

Beechwood Park -This song has a haunting guitar and organ which nearly sounds like a Procol Harum song.

Brief Candles-A torch song verse with a chorus that's upbeat. Very nice piano and vocalization.

Hung up on a Dream-A lot of mellotron work which nearly sounds like it could be on a Moody Blues Album.

Changes-Very spacey intro and it's mostly an a capella song.

I want her she wants me-Another pop feel-good song.

This will be our year-A rock-shuffle song with horns.

Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)-Sounds like a King Crimson song with minor keys and haunting lyrics as well as the Harmonium leading the song.

Friends of Mine-Another cheerful song which stops suddenly for...

Time of the Season-The hit song for The Zombies. Too bad that they didn't make anymore albums because this album is great!

[quinnmartin]

Great, great record. I pretty much thought of them as just another British Invasion one-hit-wonder for the longest time, but was inspired by investate them further after hearing the Posies version of "Brief Candles".

My favorite song on the record would have to be "Hung Up on a Dream". Tremendous vocal arrangement, and I love all the Ringo-esque off-kilter drum fills. "Care of Cell 44" is just about the perfect blend of Brian Wilson and the Hollies. And as simple as it is compared to the rest of the record "This Will Be Our Year" always gets me. Great lead vocal by (I think) Chris White.

And good call on "I'll Call You Mine". In a better world that would have been a monster hit single.

[alansmeet]

I live this album. I'm also glad to see others feel the same way. It's just great harmonies and pop. The song "rose for emily" really stands out for me, as it just pops into my head during the day the most. I've always wanted to sing this one with a band. Yay Zombies! The whole album is solid.

[Tennis Hog]

I found this album when I was searching for the original version of "Time of the Season". I love how ethereal yet catchy the songs are.

[NardDog]

a under appreciated classic for sure

Care of Cell 44
This Will Be Our Year
Friends Of Mine
Time Of The Season

some breath taking stuff...